“The Mufti of the Muslim Brotherhood”: Al-Ghariani leads an incitement campaign to prevent the end of the Dbeibeh government

25th December 2024

2 minutes read

"The Mufti of the Muslim Brotherhood": Al-Ghariani leads an incitement campaign to prevent the end of the Dbeibeh government

The deposed Libyan Mufti, Sadiq Al-Ghariani, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, is leading a campaign of provocation against Moroccan efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis, aiming to block the formation of a new government that would replace the Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.

This incitement campaign has been met with rejection from Libyan circles, which view Al-Ghariani as acting under the orders of Dbeibeh, who in turn operates within the confines set by foreign entities, particularly Algeria, according to The Arab newspaper based in London.

Al-Ghariani, nicknamed the “Mufti of Sedition” since 2012, criticized in an episode of his program “Islam and Life” what he described as the role of Moroccan intelligence in Libyan affairs. He alleged that these interventions aim to fuel internal divisions by hosting Libyan opposition figures to form a new transitional government. This was in reference to the consultative meeting held in Bouznika, which brought together approximately 120 officials from the House of Representatives and the High Council of State. The meeting aimed to push the political process forward toward presidential and parliamentary elections through an agreement on a unified roadmap, including the formation of a unified government.

According to The Arab, Al-Ghariani’s attacks on other countries and his interference in politics tarnish his religious role, which should be surrounded by an aura of sanctity and respect, instead of provoking discontent through incitement and sectarianism, which he has engaged in since the fall of the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

Many Libyans describe Al-Ghariani as a “divider.” Rather than working to bridge gaps, resolve Libyan disputes, or welcome efforts by countries to stabilize Libya, he consistently attacks any state acting against the interests of political Islam while wholeheartedly supporting nations that back it, such as Qatar and Turkey.

Since 2012, Al-Ghariani has served as the religious arm of extremist groups in Libya, issuing fatwas aligned with their interests, objectives, and agendas. These fatwas have led to numerous violent crimes, as he called on terrorist groups to take up arms and fight the Libyan army. Consequently, he has become a prominent contributor to the spread of chaos and the deepening of divisions in Libya.